Nigeria's unity threatened: Is Biafra ripe for self rule?

INTRODUCTION
If you have read Chinua Achebe's epic novel There Was A Country, then this article is just for you to take note of some facts therein- the Nigeria-Biafra relationship. if not, then get the baseline as we explore the novel together

Excerpt from the 2012 book "there was a country" by Chinua Achebe and the 1998 "the Kingfisher Children's Encyclopaedia". Analyzed and Compiled by Ogbonna Chidiebube Samuel.

NIGERIAN AND BIAFRA- AN OVERVIEW
Nigeria is a republic on the west African coast. it has greater population than any other African country with an area of 923768 sq. km. There are three main ethnic groups, the Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba. Nigeria became independent from Britain in 1960, October 1.
Now we have seen what Nigeria is like, lets briefly see the Republic of Biafra. Biafra is a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of the citizens. The republic took its name from the bight of Biafra, the vast expanse of water covering the continental shelf in which Niger river empties before flowing into Gulf of Biafra. however, the body of water was renamed Gulf of Guinea. Biafra is home to a large number of ethnic group with Igbo making up about 65% of the population.

THE PROBLEM WITH NIGERIA
After the European left, and within 6 years of colonial manipulation of Nigeria's first election in favour of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria was a cesspool of misrule and corruption. Public servants helped themselves freely with public wealth. Elections blatantly rigged. Census was outrageously stage managed; judges and magistrates were manipulated. The social malaise in Nigerian society was political corruption. There was an inbuilt power struggle among the ethnic groups, those in power wanted to remain in power of course.
The original idea of one Nigeria was pressed by the leaders and intellectuals from the Eastern Region. With all this idea to build the country as one. The first to object were the Northerners, led by the Awolowo clique that had created the Action group. The Northern People's Congress of the Sadaunians was supposed to be a national party, yet it refused to change its name from Northern to Nigerian People's Congress. Power, according to the British construct went to the conservative element(Northerners) who played no active role in the struggle for independence. Nigeria was given her independence "on a platter of gold". We should have known that freedom should be won, not given on a plate. Like the head of John the Baptist, this gift to Nigeria proved most unlucky. By 1965, the problems of the nation was long overdue. The January 15, 1966 coup changed Nigeria forever.

THE COUP
The 1966 coup was initially received with jubilation, not too long afterwards, it was tagged 'Igbo coup', a means of Igbos of the East to seize control of Nigeria. Part of the way to respond to confusion in Nigeria was to blame those of other ethnic group. Easterners were afterwards attacked, lust for revenge engulfed Nigerians who consequently took out Igbos who led the nation in virtually every sector. This same group, the Igbo, that gave the British so many headaches and literally drove them out of Nigeria is now an open target.
Soldiers were being used to commit a number of crimes against Igbos, their fellow Nigerian citizens. Military officers rounded people up and summarily executing them, this caused the Igbos in the north flee the pogrom. The most disheartening thing was that the federal government sat by and let all these happen.

THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF NIGERIA AND BIAFRA

The origin of the national resentment of the Igbo is as old as Nigeria and quite as complicated ( I use Igbo here to represent Biafra) The Igbo culture, being receptive to change, individualistic, and highly competitive, gave the Igbo man an unquestioned advantage over his compatriots in securing credentials for advancement in Nigerian colonial society. Unlike the Hausa/Fulani he was unhindered by a wary religion and unlike the Yoruba he was unhampered by tradition hierarchies. This kind of creature, fearing no god or man, was custom-made to grasp the opportunities such as they were, of the white man's dispensations. And the Igbo did so with both hands.

According to Paul Anber, with unparalleled rapidity, the Igbos advanced fastest in the shortest period of time of all Nigeria's ethnic groups like the Jews... the population density in Igbo land created a "land hunger"... a factor that led to migration to other parts of the nation.

The Igbos has the highest literacy rate among the whole ethnic groups. Igbos absorbed education as readily as they responded to urbanization. Instead of the nation to harness the adventurous spirit of the Igbo and celebrate them, they attempt to crush these people and their potentials; this is a reason for the current developmental challenges in Nigeria today.

The Nigerian history has been riddled by coups, countercoups and assassinations. After the 1966 coup, the northerners killed top Igbo government officials, they did nt stop there, they slaughtered, maimed and wounded the Igbo civilians in the north too. Peace talks were held in Aburi and agreements reached. The failure of the Nigerian head of state, Gowon, to implement the Aburi agreement led to a strong sense of apprehension by the Igbos. Afterwards this led to the secession of the Easterners from Nigeria. However, this was the decision of the entire Igbo people and not from Ojukwu (the Biafran head of state) alone.

THE WAR
After the coup, and the flight of the Igbos from the various parts of Nigeria down to the east, their home, Ojukwu declared the independence of Biafra. War ensued few months later. The Nigerian troops fiercely attacked Biafra in the war, which broke out in 1967 and lasted for 30 months. Biafrans though lacking sufficient weapon unlike the Nigerians, the held out for so long by devising several means of survival till they surrendered. After the war, things were never the same again. The northerners alongside the westerners occupied top government positions thereby tossing igbos to the background at least until recently.


WHAT NEXT?
Confederating Nigeria was among the Aburi accord, which the then Nigerian head of state and his office paid little attention to. The recent problems in Nigeria stems from ethnic differences, which has defied all possible solutions. Boko Haram has threatened the unity and security of the nation. The ruling party, PDP, has broken into two-sub party because of zoning issue, and ethnic difference. A northern politician once said in October 2013 that the north could survive without oil, the capital product of the south-east. So, the big question is, do you think there is a possible solution to these problems? Do you think the solution is the secession of Biafra from Nigeria? Or do you think that the Igbos are not ripe for self rule and thereby should stay put in Nigeria? Your opinion can help shape the future of this 53 year old Giant of Africa!!